California man arrested for stealing cop car from Arizona hospital
04/19/2021 12:43 pm PDT
MESA, Ariz. (TCD) --
A California man was arrested for allegedly stealing a police car from a hospital in Arizona on Wednesday, April 14.
Mesa Police said a fully marked police vehicle was parked at Banner Desert Medical Center near S. Dobson Rd. and Southern Ave. at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, KNXV-TV reports.
Police said a suspect opened the door to the vehicle and found keys inside, started the vehicle and drove away.
Raudel Cardenas, 32, was arrested about 2 miles away, near Country Club Drive and Southern Ave., when an officer saw him allegedly sitting in, then exiting the vehicle, police said.
KPHO-TV reports Cardenas cooperated with the officer, showing him his driver's license and answering his questions.
Cardenas, a Lake Hughes, California resident, reportedly told police he “took the vehicle so he could go home,” KPHO reports.
Cardenas was charged with one count of theft of a means of transportation.
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